Police re-open Rikki Neave murder inquiry

Detectives leading the re-opened investigation into the murder of Rikki Neave are calling on people to “do the right thing” and come forward.

Cambridgeshire police announced on Thursday that they were relaunching the investigation, almost 21 years after the six-year-old’s body was found.

Rikki, who has family connections to March, was last seen leaving for school at around 9am on Monday, November 28, 1994, from his home in Redmile Walk, Welland.

His body was found in a wooded area off Eye Road, close to Willoughby Court, the following day.

A post mortem examination concluded that Rikki had died as a result of a compression of the neck – strangulation. Despite a lengthy investigation no one has ever been brought to justice in relation to Rikki’s death.

The man leading the investigation, Dept Supt Paul Fullwood, said the inquiry has been relaunched after a cold case review.

He said a team of officers with specialist skills will be leading the investigation and that there have been major forensic and technological developments since 1994.

He said: “No unsolved major crime is ever closed and we continually review them to seek any new opportunities to gain closure for the families affected, justice for the victim and ensure those responsible are dealt with.

“All murder is tragic but when a young child is involved it is truly devastating. We owe it to Rikki and his family to find whoever was responsible for his murder and ensure they are brought to justice.

“We are therefore seeking the public’s help and would particularly like to speak to people who came forward before but maybe did not tell us everything they knew, or people who perhaps have information about the case but didn’t want to talk to police at the time.

“It may be that you were a child at the time and didn’t want to speak up but now, as an adult and perhaps a parent yourself, you feel it is time to do so.

“I strongly believe there are people out there who have significant information about Rikki’s death and for a valid reason didn’t speak to police at the time. Now is their opportunity to do the right thing and share that secret they have had to keep for more than 20 years.”

If you have information, please contact 01480 425882 or email operation.mansell@cambs.pnn.police.uk You can give information anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.

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